Milwaukee Rep retools artistic relationships

The Milwuaukee Repertory Theatre announced Thursday that it has created a new large group of more loosely affiliated associate artists, essentially replacements for what was one of the last remaining resident companies of actors in America but nonetheless including the actors who were part of that group.

Artistic director Mark Clements said that the theater's decision to stage "more diverse and innovative productions" had led to the change, which he called an expansion of the theater's "core artistic family."

Some of the names already are members of other collectives: Simonson, for example, is a Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member. The model of artistic affiliates is increasingly common in regional theater.